Page 64 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 23 - 26

conduct of the Board of Trade, and the Attorney-General will deal with that, not in the spirit of an advocate for the Board of Trade, but as a man trying to assist me, and nothing else; and I think, myself, if I may say so, that he has taken that course, so far, quite impartially. ALFRED YOUNG, Recalled. 23344. (The Commissioner.) You were to bring us something this morning? - Yes, a recommendation of mine made from Liverpool. 23345. During the tenure of office of Sir Alfred Chalmers? - Yes, my Lord. 23346. Have you got it? - I have it here. 23347. Is it very long? - No, not at all. 23348. Then perhaps you will read it? - Before I read that letter, may I have your permission to read the original letter from the Board of Trade desiring me to make these recommendations? 23349. Yes. - The Minute runs thus: “The Board have under consideration the question of amending the present requirements of the Statutory Rules for life-saving appliances as regards the boats to be carried on passenger steamers of over 12,000 tons gross. The amendment would consist of an extension of the Table in the Appendix to the Rules specifying the boats to be carried under davits on vessels up to 50,000 tons gross and over.” 23350. What is the date? - The 18th February, 1911. “It is suggested that the extension should proceed by divisions of 5,000 tons as indicated on the accompanying sheet, and Captain Young is requested to be so good as to indicate on the sheet a draft of the extension which he considers would be practicable, and would provide in a satisfactory and reasonable manner for the conditions of the large passenger steamers. It is not intended that the boat capacity on vessels included in the extension should necessarily increase in a regular proportion according to the increase in tonnage, the object being rather to arrive at a scale which may be regarded as satisfactory, but will also be entirely practicable and reasonable. Attention is also directed to the Rule of 19th April, 1910, as to the stowage of boats required to be placed under davits.” That was a Rule allowing one-fourth of the boats that the Table required to be placed under davits to be carried inboard abreast of the davits. “It will be borne in mind that the capacity of the additional boats or rafts required to by Clause (d) of Division (A.) Class 1 of the Rules is governed by the capacity of the boats required to be placed under davits. Captain Young is also requested to furnish the Board with his views generally on the question of the boat capacity which should be provided on these large vessels taking into consideration the present methods of ship construction, the filling of watertight compartments, the provisions of separate boat decks and winches, and any other point which may be regarded as bearing on the subject.” That is a letter addressed to me by the Marine Department of the Board of Trade when I was in Liverpool and desiring me to reply. 23351. Signed by whom? - Signed by the Assistant Secretary, Sir Walter Howell. Further examined by Mr. SCANLAN. 23352. Is this a circular letter sent to all the superintendents? - It is a circular letter individually sent on separate Minutes, not to superintendents, but to certain of the Principal Officers of the Board of Trade. 23353. I suppose everybody replied as you did? - They replied practically in the same way. The Attorney-General: There are three. Two were asked besides this Witness. The Commissioner: At what ports; this gentleman was Liverpool. 23354. (The Attorney-General.) I can only tell by the names, Captain Parke and Mr. Harris. The Witness: At Liverpool, London, and Glasgow. 23355. (Mr. Scanlan.) You advised from Liverpool? - Yes. 23356. From your experience at Liverpool? - Yes.